Traveling south of the border for cosmetic procedures is a strangely popular way to get the hottest beauty trends for less. However, it is definitely not always the safest option. Recently, people who got the trendy “vampire facial” in Mexico were told they needed to get tested for HIV. But, no matter what happens, people will always be looking for a deal.
That’s why 36-year-old Texas woman Laura Avila elected to have a nose job in a Mexican clinic, which was charging around 1/3 of the average price of a nose job in the US. But, things could not have ended more tragically for this young woman.
Avila and her fiancé traveled to Juarez, Mexico for the procedure. After Avila was taken into the operating room, things immediately went horribly wrong. Her fiancé was told simply that her blood pressure had dropped and they would be unable to do the surgery. The reality was much darker. The clinic injected anesthesia into Avila’s spine. It flowed to her brain and caused severe swelling. She also went into cardiac arrest. Her fiancé was kept from seeing her for hours.
When he finally discovered what was wrong, the clinic would not let him and the rest of Avila’s family transfer her to a US hospital. They refused to release her until the full bill was paid.
Once Avila was finally transferred to a Texas hospital, the family received the full extent of the grim news. Avila, who is in a coma, suffered severe brain damage. Her sister says she most likely never “walk or eat for herself again or speak.” She is now in hospice care, though her family is holding out hope. They have created a GoFundMe where they shared the side of Laura Avila that has been taken away from them.
This tragic story serves as a reminder of the dangers of discount cosmetic treatments. Even small procedures that seem harmless can lead to serious complications. From the possibility of HIV from a facial to becoming severely disabled, likely losing a life, from a nose job, these decisions need to be taken much more seriously.
Should anything be done to prevent such horrible tragedies like this one? Or, is it up to each individual to decide to take such a risk? Share your thoughts with us!
